Abstract: In bowling establishments, the bowling balls being returned on a ball return race must be lifted to a higher level in the vicinity of the player's position. This is effected by means of a belt drive, which is seated on a pivotable ball lift mechanism (6). If a ball (3) is not engaged by the belt (9), a feeler causes the arm (12) of the pivotable mechanism (6) to be lowered, as a result of which the ball is engaged by the belt (9) and is transported obliquely upward along the return race (2). As a result of this upward movement of the ball (3), the pivotable ball lift mechanism (6) is pivoted in the direction of the arrow A and the latch arm (22) again locks into place behind the latch (32), so that the pivotable ball lift mechanism (6) subsequently assumes its normal position. The operational reliability of the apparatus is thereby increased, because even balls (3) rolling quite closely to one another are lifted with assurance to the proper level.